‘This Is I’: A Spirited, Musical Biopic of Transgender Star Ai Haruna, Colorful Film Shows Power of Entertainment

By Yasuko Onda / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer

10:45 JST, March 20, 2026

“This is I,” which started streaming on Netflix in February, is a biopic about Ai Haruna, a popular transgender TV personality and singer in Japan.

The film produced in Japan tells the star’s tumultuous but wonderful success story, featuring gorgeous dance scenes and hit songs from the 1980s and ’90s. Most middle-aged or older Japanese people should know the songs well (and usually can sing along).

The protagonist, Ai (played by the 18-year-old rising star Haruki Mochizuki), as a child is known as Kenji. Assigned male at birth in the 1970s, Kenji has adored pop star Seiko Matsuda since childhood and dreams of becoming a performer like her.

However, understanding of the diversity of gender identity back then was very different than it is now. Kenji is badly bullied at junior high school, but cannot consult family and receives no sympathy from a teacher.

Struggling with a sense of identity, Kenji starts working at a “new half” (male-to-female cross-dresser or transwoman) show pub. On the first day appearing on stage as Ai, Kenji has a fateful encounter with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Koji Wada (played by Takumi Saito). Wada decides to help Ai, who suffers from gender dysphoria, and performs gender-affirming surgery on Ai even though such a surgery was seen as taboo in Japan at the time.

During the roughly two hour run time of the film, Ai faces many difficulties including prejudice and a lack of understanding from people. However, this film does not sink under the weight of hardship.

Yearning to be a dazzling pop idol is the source of Ai’s drive and sparkle, and that sparkle then illuminates Wada’s life. By saving Ai’s life and spirit, Wada is saved as well. Trying to live out one’s own ideals benefits others as well. That becomes clear through the story between Ai and Wada, and it affects others who watch the film.

The story has both light sides and dark sides. It is vibrantly colorful, and the editing is rhythmical. The musical scenes are fascinating, featuring various hit tunes, including those of Matsuda, and Ai’s skillful lip-synching. In particular, the surprise group dance on the street in Osaka is reminiscent of the famous street dance scene in “(500) Days of Summer” directed by Marc Webb. “This is I” is a film that depicts the power of entertainment as something people can rely on.